Collapsible bed



Jan. 14, 1930. R. J. ELLSWORTH 1,743,332

COLLAPSIBLE BED' Filed July 5, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 14, 1930. R. ,1. ELLSWORTH 1,743,332

COLLAPSIBLE BED Filed July 5, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 14, 1930 UNITED STATES OFFICE ROSS J. ELLSWORTH, OF WOODSTOCK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO HOLMES DISAPPEARING BED COMPANY, OF WOODSTOCK, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS COLLAPS IBLE BED Application filed. July 5, 1927. Serial No. 203,548.

With the above and other objects in view,

as will be apparent, this invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts all as hereinafter more fully Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken along.

line 22 of Fig. 1 illustrating the connection between the end rails and the supporting structure.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken along line 33 of Fig. 1 and illustrates the connection between a side and end rail.

Fig. 4 is a section taken along line 44 of Fig. 1 longitudinally through one of the end rails.

Fig. 5 is a similar section taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 1 to illustrate the mounting of an end rail.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating a modification of the canvas.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 4 illustrating a modified form of union between the end and side rails, particularly adapted for use when the present bed is arranged in tiers.

The present invention is designed primarily to economize storage space in the matter of beds and at the same time provide a durable, comfortable, roomy bed. It has a multitude of uses, such, for instance, in connection with the provision of sleeping accommodations for the crews of dining cars, wreck trains, freight trains, and other railway equipment wherein economy of space is a factor. It can, among other things, be used in conjunction with motor equipment.

In carrying out the resent invention tubular end rails are anc iored to any suitable fixed support such as the wall of a railroad car or the running board of an automobile or the wall of a room and between their outer or free ends have a side rail interposed, the end rails supporting a canvas bed. The end rails are also provided with foldable legs at their outer ends which support the end rails and the side rail therebetween when the bed is assembled. When it is desired to collapse the bed the side rail is removed from between the terminals of the end rails and the latter are disengaged from their anchoring structure. This permits the legs to be folded parallel to the side rails and the side rails with their legs rolled into the canvas therebyproducing a small, compact bundle made up of the canvas, the legs and the end rails with the side rail separate. Of course, if desired, the siderail may be also collapsed and rolled in the canvas.

Reference being had more particularly to the drawings, 10 designates a supporting wall or structure such as a room wall, the side wall of a railway car or running board of an automobile. Secured to this supporting structure 10 are a pair of brackets 11 spaced one from the other a distance equal to the approximate length of the bed and elevated above the floor or ground a distance equal to the approximate length of the legs, to be described. Each bracket 11 carries a horizontal supporting plate 12 which is provided with a slot or opening 13 therethrough. These brackets 11 and their supporting plates 12 are designed to support the terminals of the end rails of the bed.

Each end rail 14 of the bed constitutes a tube flattened as at 15 at one end and provided with an offset shoulder 16 creating a The width of the flattened portion 15, the

tongue 17 and shoulder 16 is such that the tongue and shoulder may be inserted in the opening or slot in the supporting plate 12 of one of the brackets 11. This is accomplished by elevating the end rail 14 to permit the tongue 17 to pass through the opening or slot ing end rail 14.

13 after which the end rail is swung toward a horizontal position whereby the shoulder 16 is permitted to enter and rest in the opening or slot 13. Thus when the end rail is properly positioned, the shoulder 16 rests vertically and passes through the slot or opening 13 while the tongue 17 rests flush against and parallel to the under face of the supporting plate 12 and the flattened portion 15 rests flush against and parallel to the-upper surface of the supporting plate 12 on the opposite side of the opening or slot 13. ,In this manner one end of each end'rail 141s securely anchored to one of the brackets ll and by it to the supporting structure 10.

At the outer or free end of each end rail 14 opposite the flattened portion=15 is a union 18 which .has a reduced shoulder 19.to be'received in the end of the .cooperat- The shoulder 19 has a friction fit intheendof theend. rail 14 and is fixedly and rigidly held therein by the rivet or other suitable fastening means 20 passing through the terminal of the end rail 14 and the shoulder 19. Positionedat rigth angles to the union 19 but in thesame plane is a lug 21. provided with ashoulder 22 'whi'ch constitutes a mounting for one end ofv the side rail as will be hereinafter more fully described.

The under side of each-union is provided with a bracket 23 to Whichispivoted aleg 24 and interposed between this legr24 and the end rail 14 is-afoldable brace 25.

From the foregoing it will be seen thateach end. rail issupported at one end by a bracket illnand at its opposite end, by a leg 24 which may be folded to :a position parallelto and l flushagainst the end rail.

A side rail,26. equivalent in length to the length ofthebed isinterposedbetween the .outer terminals of theend rails-l4. "This siderail 26 istubular in construction and is adaptedto receive theshoulders 22 ofthe lugs 21 of. the unions 18 and itsends when said If additional security isydesired for the connection between theilug21 Ea n'dthe side rail 26 a pin 2'T may bein serted through. the end of theside; rail 26 and. the.,shou1der. 22 of the, lug 21. This. pin 27 is removablysecured 28 tothe union18. A canvasbed 29.is,iinter-. .posed between the endrails 14 andpithas a V lloopBO formedtherein,ateach endlfor the I reception of the. end, rails .14.

.In assemblingfthe bedythe end. railsl14. with the canvas 29 secured-theretdaremountedon then .be interposedrbetween. the unions .18 I-by structure is obtained, the length of the side rail 26 being sufficient to maintain the proper tension on the canvas 29. p

A modification of the present structure is illustrated in Figxfi wherein the canvas is divided into two sections 31- and 32 which are connected by the lacing 33. This modification permits of a regulation of the tension of the canvasbetween the end rails 14.

"When it is desired to disassemble the bed for storage purposes the side rail26 may be removed from its position between the unions 18 .after whiclrthe. end rails may be disconnected-from the plates 12 of the bracketsll.

.i-The legs 24may then be folded against the end rails 14 and the entire structure rolled intotheucanvas 29. If desiredvthe side rail '26 maybealso rolled into the canvas 29 or Hitma y be made in, sectionswhichwhen dis- ;assembled maybe rolled intothe same bun-- --dle as the end rails '14, and legs 24. In this manner a compactand relatively small package .is. produced which can be readily and easily stored in approximately little space.

Should it be desired to arrange beds constructed iii-accordance with the ;present invention in. tiers; i... e. one. abovev the other, it

is onlynecessary. to place additional. brackets 11 above and in vertical alignment with the lower. brackets 11 andtomodify the unions of. theflower bedasillustrated in Fig. 7. In

the union;illustrated iniFig. 7' thebody 18 thereof isprovided with an upstanding stud 134F911 the opposite side. thereofto the bracket 23 o f the legs 24. This stud is received in the lower. en ds-of theulegs 24. of the upper bed which may be tubular. for that purpose. This provides a rigid connection between-the legs .oithe upper bed andthe :strnctureof the lower bed which prevents any lateral dis placement ,of :the. legs of the, upper bed-there by forming a, solid and: rigid, structure.

ltis to benoted that the weight of an occupant on .thecanvas 29 (31'fS2);is sufficient to insure the constant connection between the :-.SiCle rail 26 and the shoulders 22 of the in order to per'mitthe disassemblingof the,

.-becl structure andrm'ayg-be connectedlby chain unions-18 for the reasonthat the tendency thereof is'to draw the -end,rails 1.4 toward one another. This is yeqllallyitrue when. the

a collapsible .bedi structure, which may be beds irrenlimnged intie'rsas the-weight off ,the .bed elements of; the upper beds, independentlyofthe. weightlof the occupantsyis, ample ;to maintain l the, legs 24, in engagement with thestuds34. Y

,The present. invention, therefore, provides purposes. In the event the side rail 26 is not stored with the remainder of the bed, a rack may be provided for retaining one or more of them when not in use.

The present'bed is capable of many Varied uses It is applicable to railway equipment of all kinds, particularly in dining cars, work or wreck train cars, and cabooses. In dining cars these beds may be used for the accommodation of the crewat night and stored in lockers during the day; in work or wreck cars this is also true and such use will reduce the number of cars required for the accommodation of the crew and laborers; in cabooses the body of the car, which is relatively small, is left free, when the train is in operation. This bed may also be used in bunk houses, even when left up permanently. In short, the present bed may be used wherever there is a mounting for the brackets 11 and while it may be collapsed for storing or moving, it may be left in position if so desired.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a fixed bracket, of a tubular end rail having one end thereof flattened and shouldered to create a tongue to one side of and substantially parallel to said flattened portion for cooperation with said bracket, a side rail interposed between the free ends of a pair of said end rails, and a bed carried by said end rails adapted to hold the end and side rails in engagement.

2. The combination with a fixed bracket having an outstanding supporting plate with an opening, of a tubular end rail flattened and shouldered at one end to create a tongue parallel to and at one side of said flattened portion and connected thereto by a right angularly disposed shoulder, said tongue and shoulder being adapted to pass through the opening of said supporting plate whereby the flattened portion rests on one side of said plate and the tongue on the opposite side thereof with the shoulder in the said opening, a union fitted to the opposite end of said end rail provided with a right angularly disposed lug, a bracket on the under side of said union, a leg hinged to said bracket, a folding brace interposed between the leg and the end rail, a side rail interposed between the unions of a pair of the end rails and cooperating with the lugs thereof, and a bed carried between said end rails. V

3. The combination with a fixed bracket having an outstanding supporting plate with an opening, of a tubular end rail flattened and shouldered at one end to create a tongue parallel to and at one side of said flattened portion and connected thereto by a right angularly disposed shoulder, said tongue and shoulder being adapted to pass through the opening of said supporting plate whereby the flattened portion rests on one side of said plate and the tongue on the opposite side thereof with the shoulder in the said opening,

a union fitted to the opposite end of said end rail provided with a right angularly disposed lug, a bracket on the under side of said union, a leg hinged to said bracket, a folding brace interposed between the leg and the end rail, an upstanding stud on the upper side of said union for cooperation with a leg of a superimposed bed structure, and a flexible bed element interposed between said end rails.

4. The combination with a fixed bracket having an outstanding supporting plate with an opening, of a tubular end rail flattened and shouldered at one end to create a tongue parallel to and at one side of said flattened portion and connected thereto by a right angularly disposed shoulder, said tongue and shoulder being adapted to pass through the opening of said supporting plate whereby the flattened portion rests on one side of said plate and the tongue on the opposite side thereof with the shoulder in the said opening, a union fitted to the opposite end of said end rail provided with a right angnlarly disposed lug, a bracket on the under side of said union, a leg hinged to said bracket, a folding brace interposed between the leg and the end rail, a stud on the upper side of said union for engagement by a leg of a similar superposed bed structure, and a canvas suspended between said end rails.

ROSS J. ELLSWORTH. 

